Tuesday, 11 June 2019

'Ride the Waves' - transcript of sermon at St Anne's, Brown Edge, Whit Sunday 2019


St Anne’s, Brown Edge Pentecost 2019



Let’s back track a little starting with Acts 1.4…

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.

This is the resurrected Jesus eating with them and giving them instructions.

Then, as we celebrated on Thursday 30th May, Jesus ascended into heaven.

In obedience to Jesus’ command they are gathered together in an Upper Room, one hundred and twenty of them!  For such a large group it has been suggested that as not many rooms could hold such number of people it may well have been a room within the huge temple complex.

That would accord well with the cosmopolitan crowd they encountered when they spilled out of the room into the temple courts.

This crowd would have been gathering for one of the most important Jewish Festivals held at a time of the year when travel was easier and the weather kinder – which all helped boost the numbers.

Shavuot, in ancient Greek, Pentecost, is the Feast of Weeks, and celebrated seven weeks after Passover, commemorating the first fruits of the harvest and associated with the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai! It's taken from Leviticus 23 and Numbers 28, where two wheat loaves were offered in the tabernacle, representing the “choicest fruits”—an offering of thanks to God for Israel’s bounty—a festival of first fruits! On the morning of the first day of Shavuot, Jews gathered to read Exodus 19 and 20, which describes the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai. All stand when the Ten Commandments are read—commemorating this important day in the Jewish tradition.

Now, let me pick up the story from the account in Acts 1.13…

The Mount of Olives was about half a mile from Jerusalem. The apostles who had gone there were Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon, known as the Eager One, and Judas the son of James. After the apostles returned to the city, they went upstairs to the room where they had been staying. The apostles often met together and prayed with a single purpose in mind. (Note that)

The women and Mary the mother of Jesus would meet with them, and so would his brothers. One day there were about one hundred twenty of the Lord’s followers meeting together, and Peter stood up to speak to them.

As they met not only would they be seeking to be obedient to Jesus’ instructions, they would be mindful of the words we heard from John’s Gospel.

‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you for ever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. ‘I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

A question – up to 120 disciples, most likely with some coming and going, but regularly all together, waiting, wondering, pondering and praying.

What do you think their conversations would have been about?

I imagine some of it would have recalling the times Jesus was with them. 

Perhaps someone was writing down precious fragments of memory.

But do you imagine that they would have been bemoaning the fact that everything had changed and that they found themselves in a new and unexpected place with strange things happening all around them.

Can you think of them sitting there and saying, ‘o it was so much better in the old days? We liked it that way, why do we have to see so much change. Why can’t things stay the same?’

In the middle of May I ran a Parish Away Day for St Mary’s, Knutton.  I began by inviting them to write down on a postcard their dreams for St Mary’s. We revisited those dreams towards the end of the day and through a process created a ‘Dream for St Mary’s, Knutton’ that they can take forward.

To encourage them I told the story of the Tubestation at Polzeath. I can’t imagine that I haven’t recalled that story here before. But let me refresh your memory by reading what they have written on their web site about their dream and where they have journeyed from.

‘Tubestation started life as an idea among a handful of old faithful’s in a Jesus church by the sea, to simply serve our local community, made up of surfers and ocean lovers, with the things that we found in our hands...’


Today that Methodist Chapel by the sea has been utterly transformed and engages with thousands of people from across the world and is rated as one of the best surfer cafe's in Cornwall and more, so much more.



And they still do Church.

I spent most of last week at a Church Army Gathering in Yarnfield. On one evening we had a session called ‘On the Shoulders of Giants’

This quote was famously used by Isaac Newton but can be traced further back to at least the 12th century theologian and author John of Salisbury.

We watched old footage of the original founder of Church Army, Wilson Carlile speaking about his vision for the Church Army. Then we had various photos and video recorded interviews with older Officers who have now been promoted to glory. 


We continued the Church Army story with some of our current older Officers present with us who recounted their own stories. Eventually we began to hear of our work today and the plans, dreams and visions for the future. So much has changed even over the last few years.

Tonight I will be celebrating forty years involvement with Church Army and I have seen massive changes. Massive changes and yet with that same heart and passion that our current CEO, Mark Russel put so well in his opening address.

‘Our passion is not to save the church from extinction but a passion to build the Kingdom of God on earth.’

At the end of May I was at another conference, this was the National Missioners Summer Gathering. We heard stories from Birmingham diocese of exciting initiatives seeking to engage with children and young people and from Coventry diocese about their work reaching out to those who are in their twenties and thirties.

We also heard about the Strategic Development Fund, grants that are being released to help dioceses reach out in mission and evangelism.  

There really is a new energy and spirit abroad; I would say a new fresh wind of the Holy Spirit blowing through the Church of England.

At the end of April I was at yet another conference called ‘On Fire Mission.’  Around 150 people gathered together, they are radically inclusive and worship in the style of Anglo-Catholic Charismatics. And they are growing and attracting more and more people to engage with this wonderful admixture of Anglo-Catholic worship, infused with contemporary worship songs and with a full manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit. Speaking and singing in tongues, healings, words of knowledge, prophecy, resting in the Spirit. It is truly the most amazing experience.


I began by referring to the one hundred and twenty apostles gathered together. 

In our reading from Acts we heard the story of the Spirit descending upon them as tongues of fire. Then they spill out into the crowd attracted by this exuberant praise of God. ‘And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.’

No solemnity here, no embarrassment, but full throated adoration and praise to God – outside!

God’s Holy Spirit cannot be confined, controlled or contained.

Now being filled with Spirit the disciples were no longer confined, contained and hiding in an Upper Room and the crowds gathering from many parts of the world…

‘…heard them declaring the wonders of God in their own tongue.’

Those surfers who gather around Tubestation know they are powerless to make the waves do what they might want.

They know that they have to wait for just the right moment and then catch the wave to ride along on its power.

Do you sometimes wonder how it is that we do not know and do not experience that same outpouring of the Holy Spirit?

Why do think that might be?

Someone once said that what began with a man with a message we have turned into a monument.

We cannot control the Holy Spirit; we can only wait, prayerfully, expectantly, hopefully.


And then climb onto our surfboards and enjoy the ride!

May, just maybe, that is why we see so little evidence of the Spirit filled life.
Because we are afraid of losing control, we are afraid of being embarrassed or it looking like we are drunk. 

    ‘But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’

Let me tell you brothers and sisters that there is a new wind of the Spirit blowing through many Upper Rooms, where for far too long God has been contained and controlled, measured and manipulated to fit and suit our agendas and not to further the Kingdom of God come upon earth.

What’s your dream, what do you think it would like to see the Kingdom of God in Brown Edge?

To see God’s name held in honour, to see His will being done and it is in heaven, to see forgiveness.

What do you imagine it would like if all of God’s people were filled with the Spirit of God and manifested the fruits of the Spirt?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.’

‘Tubestation started life as an idea among a handful of old faithful’s in a Jesus church by the sea, to simply serve our local community, made up of surfers and ocean lovers, with the things that we found in our hands...’

Is this a Jesus Church?

Do you want to serve this community?

What things do you have to hand?

As this exuberant expression happened at 9am we might rightly assume that they had spent the night in prayer.

Many Churches will have been doing just that in the period from Ascension Day to today – this is under an initiative picked up globally called ‘Thy Kingdom Come.’

As I come to say farewell to you as this is my last time with you I want to exhort you to give yourself to prayer, more prayer and yet more prayer.

I want to encourage to sit and wait for that wave of the Spirit, then when it comes ride it for all your worth. 

Allow the Holy Spirit to blow away the cobwebs, and allow the Holy Spirit to develop in you those wonderful gifts.

Allow the Holy Spirit to take you on a journey to God knows where – that may sound scary but I can assure you it will be marvellous, wonderful and beyond your wildest dreams.

You can do this – or make an alternative choice.

I don’t think you need me to spell that out – I am pretty certain you know exactly what that other choice is and where it will lead.

Such a choice may well lead to having the word Ichabod written over the door of the Church.

If you don’t know that story then I suggest you read 1 Samuel 4:19-22 and you will get the picture clearly enough.

But I hope and pray that you will have the spirit of Joshua...

“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

                                      https://youtu.be/zasyz-tJkOg






Monday, 3 June 2019

Captain's Blog June 2019



May began with my attending the ‘On Fire Mission Conference’ at High Leigh. The type of  worship on offer pushes all my buttons, this along with some good talks, made for an excellent and valuable time.

On returning I had the joy and privilege to see Peter Hardy commissioned by Bishop Geoff as Rural Officer for Staffordshire. It is an honorary position with expenses being met. 

This bodes well for keeping the rural profile high in the diocesan thinking and planning.

And keeping with rural, on the Saturday I was out at the Staffordshire YFC Rally on a very cold, windy and wet day.  I was there with a FCN display.

My first preachment of the month was at St Mary’s, Knutton by way of an introduction to a Parish Away Day I led a week later. The Away Day went well with a dozen folk engaging and exploring their dreams and vision for St Mary’s. Surprising how many people don’t even consider this and dream dreams about what God might be asking of them to be and become.

Pleased to have a Quiet Day up at The Hermitage and then have a session with my own Spiritual Companion the next day. I don’t know how people operate and develop in their Christian pilgrimage without something like this, a time of quiet, reflection and prayer along with some guidance and help to try and discern what God might be saying.


I attended a fascinating lecture at Staffordshire University, exploring dementia. The Other Side of Nothingness - looking for the person in the 'Strange Land' of dementia by Dr Peter Kevern.

When I spoke at the Burton ‘Filling Station’ last month I met Steve Jackson.  He and I along with Peter Hardy and Robert Mountford (County Ecumenical Officer) met for lunch to explore FCN and all things rural going forward. It is great to make connections like this as I prepare to step down.

In May I celebrated my 68th birthday.  Being Thursday Jane went off to a small music group she belongs to leaving me to go for a 12 mile run!  Later on we went to see Tolkien (what an amazing film) and then out for a meal together.

I preached on every Sunday in May and my third preachment was a Church Army Preachment at St Michael’s, Colwich.

Then a return visit to High Leigh for the National Missioners Summer Gathering – for the last time!  Good to hear of the fresh wind of the Spirit blowing through the CofE with some fantastic initiatives happening across the country.  



My fourth preachment was at HMP Stafford. This has become a very special place for me and I can well imagine picking up some prison ministry in the future – after I have had a break!


At the end the month I was once again coordinating the Church Tent at the Staffordshire County Show. I was also Show Chaplain – or as they misspelled it ‘Chaplin!’ We had a great Team and I am delighted that Revd Nicola Busby is going to take over as Coordinator.  The future looks good and set to continue,  to develop and grow.  






Some appointments and engagements in June


Monday 3rd – Thursday 6th
Church Army Gathering at Yardley Park Conference Centre

Friday 7th
Riding for the Disabled Association AGM and Volunteers Suppers.

Sunday 9th
Preaching at St Anne’s, Brown Edge
In the evening ‘Celebration of Forty Years Ministry’ at St John the Baptist, Stafford, 6.30pm

Monday 10th
Rural Mission Solutions Trustee’s Meeting in London

Tuesday 11th
Lichfield Diocesan Community of Evangelist with speaker, Robin Gamble

Wednesday 12th
Love Stafford Executive meeting

Thursday 13th
FCN Staffordshire Group meeting followed by farewell lunch. In the evening speaking at the Trent Valley Filling Station – ‘Seeking Fame – Finding Faith.’

Friday 14th
Going to see our tax consultant to help compile my tax return

Monday 17th
Personal Quiet Day

Tuesday 18th
Meeting with my own Spiritual Companion

Wednesday 19th
‘Chewing the Cud’ at Amerton – a time for rural folk to gather for coffee and chat

Thursday 20th
Meeting with DC as his spiritual companion
In the evening attending George Fisher’s farewell as he comes to retire. (6th July)

Monday 24th
Church Army Cluster Lunch at Amerton Craft Farm – with an open invitation beyond the Church Army community

Tuesday 25th
Midlands Missioners Gathering in Birmingham

Wednesday 26th
Friends that do Lunch – ‘Chew n Chat’
(Hospital on call Locum 4.30pm until 8.30am)

Thursday 27th
Final review meeting with Bishop Geoff and Archdeacon Matthew

Sunday 30th
James and William’s Baptism at St John’s Stafford. (I’m preaching) In the evening I am preaching at Holy Trinity, Baswich as they welcome David as curate (ordained Deacon in the morning). I have been walking alongside David in support.

And that’s it after working for 52 years and 11 months it time to retire!